Belle and Sebastian Drop Scotland Anthem: Is It Better Than 'Three Lions'? (Spoiler: Maybe)
Indie band tries to dethrone the woke anthem with 'It Only Takes One Lion' – will the Tartan Army bite?

Alright, lads and lasses, gather 'round. Belle and Sebastian, those twee indie darlings, have dropped a Scotland World Cup anthem. Because, you know, someone had to. It's called 'It Only Takes One Lion,' and yes, it's a thinly veiled shot at England's earworm, 'Three Lions.'
Stuart Murdoch, the band's fearless leader (or at least the one who owns the microphone), apparently had an epiphany after Scotland squeaked into the World Cup. 'Most people recognised instantly the next day that they’d witnessed the most important Scottish game ever,' he said. Probably true, considering Scotland's track record at these things. Let's not get ahead of ourselves; nobody is calling it the greatest since sliced haggis.
'It Only Takes One Lion' is supposed to be a banger, a floor-filler, a singalong for the ages. It allegedly starts with the pain of Scotland's past failures – because, let's be honest, there have been a few – then builds into some kind of… optimistic jig? The lyrics reference the 'Tartan Army,' which is basically Scotland's version of a slightly less annoying hooligan contingent.
The song is supposedly inspired by Baccara's 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie,' which apparently is the go-to jam at Hampden Park after a Scotland win. I mean, sure, why not? Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.
Murdoch admits the song is a subtle jab at 'Three Lions.' Subtle? As subtle as a bagpipe solo at a library. But hey, at least he's honest. He even says he'll support England if Scotland crashes and burns early. Backhanded compliment, much?
Scotland's World Cup history is, shall we say, checkered. 1974? Out in the first round despite being undefeated. 1978? Archie Gemmill's wonder goal couldn't save them. But hey, this time it's different! (Narrator: It probably won't be.)
Here's the thing: 'Three Lions' is an earworm. It's catchy. It's self-deprecating. It's… kind of woke? Belle and Sebastian have an uphill battle to knock it off its perch. They have to win over the hearts, the minds, and the liver-pickled souls of the Tartan Army. They need to give them something to shout to the rafters in a drunken, euphoric daze.
Will 'It Only Takes One Lion' do the trick? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure: the banter between Scotland and England is about to get a whole lot louder. Buckle up, buttercups. This could get messy.
